Methods and systems for facilitating bids on products and services

• US 8,005,744 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2005
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wk Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wk Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Hamor, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Khattar; Rajesh
• Application Number:
  US11/234,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,160 Days
• Field of Search: 705 35- 45
• US Class Current: 705/37
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Methods and systems for bidding on items include a predetermined price or range associated with an item, the price not disclosed to bidders. Successful bids conform to a predetermined success rule(s) determined independently of the amounts of other bids. Successful bids can be immediately communicated to the successful bidders. Price adjustments, typically discounts, can be determined and communicated prior to fulfillment.

Claims

1. A method of using a computer to process bids in an auction, comprising:

identifying an item for sale from a seller;

establishing a floor price for the item, the floor price determined by the seller;

displaying, using the computer, the item for bidding by a plurality of bidders, and a total quantity of the item for sale;

suppressing, during the displaying, the floor price such that the floor price is not available to the plurality of bidders;

limiting each of the plurality of bidders to a predetermined number of bids on the item;

receiving, from a first bidder, a first bid for a first quantity of the item less than the total quantity, the first bid within the predetermined number of bids, the first bid including a first bid price determined by the first bidder;

comparing the first bid price to the floor price on the computer; and

when the first bid price for the item is at least equal to the floor price, and independent of other bids by other bidders, substantially immediately notifying the first bidder of the success of the first bid by initiating a sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the first bid price;

after said notifying, receiving, from a second bidder, a second bid on a second quantity, less than the total quantity, of the item in the auction at a second bid price, the second bid price at least equal to the floor price and lower than the first bid price;

accepting the second bid from the second bidder; and

after said accepting, completing the sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the second bid price in place of the first bid price, based on the accepting of the second bid, wherein the auction continues when there is a quantity of the item remaining.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computer does not display to any bidder the bids of other bidders on the item.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the computer does not display the floor price of the item.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of bids is one.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of bids is greater than one.

6. The method of claim 1, the floor price comprising a range of prices including a minimum price.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

completing a second sale with the second bidder for the second quantity of the item at the second bid price.

8. The method of claim 1 and further comprising providing tools for facilitating a group of buyers to bid on the item.

9. The method of claim 1 and further comprising providing tools for facilitating a group of sellers to combine and sell a group of items.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the item comprises a group of identical items.

11. A bidding system for an auction, comprising:

a bid processor; and

a bidder system;

the bid processor and bidder system operative together to identify for sale an item and establish a floor price for the item determined by a seller of the item;

display the item for bidding by at least one bidder, and a quantity of the item for sale;

suppress, during the displaying, the floor price such that the floor price is not available to the at least one bidder;

limit the at least one bidder to a predetermined number of bids on the item;

receive, from a first bidder, a first bid on the item, the first bid within the predetermined number of bids, the first bid for a first quantity of the item and including a first bid price determined by the bidder;

compare the first bid price to the floor price; and

when the bid price for the item is at least equal to the floor price, and independent of other bids by other bidders, substantially immediately notify the first bidder of the success of the first bid for the first quantity of the item by initiating a sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the first bid price while allowing other bidders to submit bids on remaining quantities of the item in the auction;

when there is a remaining quantity of the item from the supplier after said first quantity, continuing the auction by;

receiving a second bid from a second bidder for a second quantity of the item, the second bid having a second bid price determined by the second bidder that is at least equal to the floor price and that is lower than the first bid price of the first bidder;

accepting the second bid; and

after said accepting, completing the sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the second bid price, based on the accepting of the second bid.

12. A method of using a computer system to sell an item in an auction, comprising:

identifying an item for sale from a supplier, the supplier providing a quantity of the item;

establishing a floor price for the item, the floor price determined by the supplier;

displaying, using the computer system, the item for bidding by at least one bidder with the floor price of the item suppressed by the computer system from the at least one bidder;

authorizing a predetermined number of bids on the item for each of the at least one bidder;

receiving a first bid from a first bidder for a first quantity of the item, the first bid within the predetermined number of bids and including a first bid price determined by the bidder;

when the bid price is at least equal to the floor price, and independent of other bids by other bidders, transmitting an acceptance of the first bid to the first bidder substantially immediately in response the first bid and initiating a sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the first bid price;

when there is a remaining quantity of the item from the supplier after said first quantity, continuing the auction by;

receiving a second bid for a second quantity of the item from a second bidder, the second bid having a second bid price determined by the second bidder that is at least equal to the floor price and that is lower than the first bid price of the first bidder;

accepting the second bid;

completing a sale of the second quantity of the item with the second bidder at the second bid price; and

completing the sale of the first quantity of the item with the first bidder at the second bid price, in place of the first bid price, based on said accepting.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein the item comprises a plurality of items and is selected from the group comprising a plurality of identical items and a plurality of different items.